Jess (Blake) Howard Email & Phone Number

Seattle, Washington, United States

Greater Seattle Area

Information Technology advisor between business teams and Information Technology on critical company-wide initiatives. Gather requirements for enterprise-wide projects to ensure accountability and adherence to scope, funding, and resource allocation in partnership with project management and business partners. Drive consensus as principal lead on decision-making for key business-related changes, which require oversight and ownership. Enhance efficiency and productivity by implementing process improvements including systems configuration, systematic dividend processing, and forms development; highly skilled in driving system of record upgrades and an annual renewal project, which generates majority of company’s annual income. Research and resolve incidents and issues, gather and review requirements, and establish expectations on project initiatives in close partnership with analysts and business teams.

Kent, Wa

Served as technology consultant and business liaison on payment acceptance capability for all phases of an Enterprise Payment Foundation project. Negotiated mutually beneficial solutions with vendor and client partners. Oversaw cross divisional decision-making on payment related changes, which required oversight and ownership to drive consensus. Implemented process improvements including incident management business communication process and reports; highly skilled in balancing processes. Gathered requirements across multiple teams for division to enterprise-wide projects to ensure adherence and accountability to funding and resources in close partnership with multiple business partners. Researched and resolved incidents and issues, gathered, and reviewed requirements, and established expectations on project initiatives in partnership with business analysts and solution architects.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Ensured quality execution as business technology advisor on a $100M investment in EMV chip / PIN card adoption and in-store acceptance. Served as project manager to oversee risk identification and issue management, through all phases of the project life cycle on a variety of enterprise-wide initiatives, including a $5.7B Target receivables sale transaction. Drove innovation by identifying, recommending, and remediating expenses on business intelligence tools by 50%; strategy facilitated $120K in annual savings. Developed technical review process and documentation for association mandates of authorization and settlement specifications. Ensured an exceptional guest and team member experience throughout projects and systematic incidents, which impacted financial operations, by maintaining accurate and comprehensive analysis. Generated stability by driving innovation through partnership with business and technology to transform concepts into viable initiatives.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Managed projects and supported the operational aspects of several business teams at Target Financial Services, including: Accounts Receivable Control, Retail Bankcard Services, Financial Planning and Control, and Compliance. Developed and enhanced processes and procedures.□ Served as a project manager in partnership with key stakeholders through risk identification and issue management, through all phases of the project life cycle on several enterprise wide initiatives including the $5.7 Billion Target receivables sale transaction □ Identified risks and interdependencies within projects or system changes. Developed solutions/contingency plans□ Gained detailed knowledge (Subject Matter Expert) of the technology that supports Financial and Retail Services business functions

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

□ Prepared and examined reconciliations, monthly journal entries and performed analyses on accounts□ Facilitated communication with internal and external auditors around the payment remittance SOX processes□ Prepared and analyzed ad-hoc reporting for senior leadership concerning sales, returns, inventory schedules, and forecasting□ Improved reporting for external vendors by designing SAS code to gain efficiencies in the process□ Responsible for providing ad hoc reporting to management on a timely basis using a number of SAS queries□ Developed and executed test plans for database system conversions and enterprise wide initiatives including Target Debit Card

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Focused on making improvements and the creation of new databases and other technological improvements. Review and research Electronic payments daily to comply with SOX controls. Improved reporting for external vendor by designing SAS code, maximizing efficiency for the process.□ Prepared and examined reconciliations, monthly journal entries and performed analyses on accounts□ Facilitated communication with internal and external auditors around the payment remittance SOX processes□ Prepared management reporting concerning sales, returns, inventory schedules, and forecasting□ Improved reporting for external vendors by designing SAS code to gain efficiencies in the process□ Responsible for providing ad hoc reporting to management on a timely basis using a number of SAS queries

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Assisted CFO in budget and forecast development. Managed expense reporting for the department. □ Improved processes to ensure invoices were paid in a timely manner, and ensured employee compliance to company expense guidelines□ Managed budget and forecast development by gathering required information and creating reports